WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth 11:28 p.m. EDT September 14, 2015

Donald Trump addresses supporters at a political rally at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.(Photo: WFAA)

DALLAS — Republican front-runner Donald Trump told thousands gathered at the American Airlines Center Monday evening that if elected president he would reduce taxes.

"Corporations are paying far too much, far too much," he said. "Middle-income people are being decimated."

Trump said he would reveal details of his plan "over the next three or so weeks," a plan that was "going to be really pro-growth."

Wearing a blue suit and a red striped tie (but without his trademark "Make America Great Again" baseball cap), Trump paused for photos and autographs before taking the podium at 6:38 p.m. CT.

"Wow! Wow! Amazing, amazing," he said to the crowd estimated at 17,000. "Do you notice what's missing tonight? Teleprompters. We don't want Teleprompters."

The lower level of the arena was packed, but there were some empty seats in the upper levels, even though Ticketmaster distributed some 20,000 free tickets, which were snatched up days ago.

Outside the arena hundreds of protesters critical of Trump's immigration stance marched from the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin Guadalupe to the arena.

During the rally, Trump boasted to supporters, "so the polls came out, and we are killing it ... we are killing it." And talked about his evangelical backing, "I'm leading with the evangelicals big league."

He then invited Pastor Robert Jeffress of the 12,000-member First Baptist Church to the podium to thank him for his support.

"We're going to have so many victories that, at some point, they're just going to be coming out of your ears!" Trump promised, adding a line that appeared to resonate with the partisan crowd: "We have a president who doesn't know what the hell he's doing!"

He was critical of news coverage of his campaign.

"If you like the media, give them a big hand ... and if you don't, give them a big boo," Trump said, eliciting a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Trump also claimed to be "surging" with female voters, in spite of recent remarks about Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina's appearance that many interpreted to be sexist.

One of the biggest applause lines at the rally came when he talked about the signature issue of his campaign.

"We have to stop illegal immigration. We have to do it," Trump said. "We have to build a wall, folks; we have to build a wall. And a wall works. All you have to do is go to Israel and ask, 'How's your wall working?'"

He continued: "I want to have a big, beautiful door, but they have to be legal. They have to be. And if they're not going to be, they can't come in."

American Airlines Center in Dallas was filled with Donald Trump supporters. (Photo: WFAA)

"We are a dumping ground for the rest of the world. We are. A dumping ground."

Trump was also critical of one of the leading Democratic candidates for president, calling Hillary Clinton "the worst secretary of state in the history of our country" without further elaboration.

The Republican candidate finished his address after one hour and 10 minutes with this pledge:

"If I'm elected president, you are going to be so proud of your country again," Trump said. "You're going to remember this evening and you're going to say to your children and to everyone else that we were part of a movement to take back our country, and we will make America great again."

He then greeted supporters as Twisted Sister's We're Not Gonna Take It blared on the public address system.

More than seven hours before doors opened, ticket holders began lining up outside the arena, hoping to get a good seat for the rally.

Red Oak resident John Rhodes was second in line at about 8:45 a.m. He was ready for a long wait with chairs, an umbrella and an ice chest.

"We just want someone that will speak their mind and is not afraid of the establishment and politically correct answers. We're very excited about what he does," Rhodes said. "I think he speaks for a lot of us. We're very frustrated with the country right now and the things going on."

Trump's campaign stop in Dallas comes just two days before the second GOP debate on CNN Wednesday, and is helping to set the stage for the Texas GOP primary in six months.

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